Atikulated Youth Force, an online campaign mobilising
support for the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm over the activities of Paul Carsten, a Reuters
Correspondent in Nigeria.

In a statement released by its spokesperson, Stanley
Ebosie on Thursday, 10th January 2019, the group condemned the activities of
Reuters Nigeria Correspondent Paul Carsten, who shared a fake video disparaging
the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and linking him with the
Boko Haram terrorist group.

“It is unfortunate that at a time that Nigeria is
suffering grave losses to the Boko Haram insurgency, a representative of a
reputable global news agency would be irresponsible enough to deliberately seek
to spread what was clearly a fake news campaign launched against the opposition
candidate.

“It is not just disgraceful, it is also extremely
dangerous and worrisome that a journalist who represents the Reuters brand
validated a fake news report by sharing the link on his verified Twitter
account, thereby giving it more exposure and traction. It is not surprising
that the Deputy Spokesman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini
Nabena posted the same video quoting Paul Carsten’s tweet and using his exact
words as a pretext to further authenticate and share the malicious fake news.

“The build up to Nigeria’s general elections is already
tense. It is disheartening that instead of joining the campaign against fake
news, the representative of a news agency like Reuters is caught in the very
act.

“We call on Reuters to do the responsible thing and take
every necessary action on Paul Carsten immediately”, the statement said.